Spring processing device



v w. o. BENNETT, JR, ETAL 2,356,912

SPRING PROCESS ING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 'I'TOR Aug. 29, 1944.

w.-o. BENNETT, JR., ET AL SPRING PROCESSING DEVICE Filed Dec. '19, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. \n/i Hi am 0. B en-n 2T1 Jr. Erna sf W. Dresdhcr BY 2; I v Ii] IT'UYIZ'YS.

F TSZ Patented Aug. 29, 1944 SPRING PROCESSING DEVICE William Ogle Bennett, J12, Lancaster, and Ernest William Drescher, Manheim, Pa., assignors to Hamilton Watch Company, Lancaster, Pa.

Application December 19, 1941, Serial No. 423,608

18 Claims.

This invention relates to spring processing devices.

An object of this invention is to provide im heat treatment, with the disc of such dimensions and formation as to facilitate handling and make possible the simultaneous heat treatment in a single furnace, of a large number of springs.

Another object is to provide means for coiling and temporarily holding a spring with its inner terminal in such a position that it will, after the spring has been released, naturally shift and effectively assume a calculated position in desired permanent relation with the remainder of the spring,

:Another object is to provide a timepiece spring holder adapted to receive a spring from a. winding device and to hold it without material change in its wound arrangement.

Other and further objects will be clearly apparent from the following specifications and from the drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I is an elevation partly in section, of one form of the devicev embodying the invention;

Fig. II is a right elevation of a part of the winding mechanism shown in section in Fig. I;

Fig, III is a partial section taken on line IIIIII of Fig. II;

Fig. IV is a plan view of the structure of Fig. I.

Fig. V is a plan view of one form of the spring holder of this invention;

Fig. VI is an edge view of the device of Fig. V, with a portion centrally sectioned;

Fig. VII is a View showing, in section, the device for holding the spring while it is being wound, and the device for transferring the spring to the holder;

Fig. VIII is a plan view of the central portion of the table of Fig. I;

Fig. IX is a partial view in elevation of the structure of Figs. I and VIII;

. Fig. Xis a view similar to Fig, IX in operative section for greater detail; and

Fig, X1 is a plan View of the top plane of the winding arbor.

Processing and handling of springs, particularly timepiece springs, presents difficulties due to the delicacy of the springs and the accuracy essential in the formation, positioning and operation of such springs. In order to meet the requirements of speed and reduced costs of modern manufacture, particularly watchmaking, it is essential that the above difficulties be overcome and means found to speed up and simplify such processing and handling.

This invention accomplishes the desired results by providing means and method whereby relatively long and slender resilient members may be coiled and processed simply, quickly and inexpensively and in such a manner as to require but little skill.

Timepiece hairsprings must first be wound to a particular contour and then so processed that, when released, they assume a desired permanent spring contour. The device and method of this invention are adapted to expedite this process, and it is to be understood that this invention may readily be applied to various other springs, or other objects capable of being coiled.

Part of the process of forming a timepiece hairspring is to coil it and then heat treat it so that it will maintain essentially its coiled formation when released.

It is an object of this invention to expedite and make efficient this part of the process by providing a holder for the hair spring for use in the heat treatment, which is simple and inexpensive to make in large quantities, which may be used many times over, and which is so formed that the number of springs held by such holders which can be arranged in a furnace is primarily limited by the spring dimension rather than the holder dimensions.

In some previous devices, the springs were coiled in a coiling unit, and this unit put in the furnace for the heat treatment of the springs. The unit was bulky with respect to the spring and had to be specially prepared for the furnace.

This invention provides means for coiling the spring in a coiling unit and then quickly and simply transferring the spring as coiled to a holder which is light weight, small in dimension and immediately ready for the furnace.

The springs are first wound in essentially flat spiral, single plane form with at least two springs wound in intercoiled relation with each other or other suitable means of providing spacing between the coils of each single spring in its finished form. Then the coiled springs are transferred to a holder without material change in their coiled arrangement, preparatory to processing to set them in final coiled form.

The setting process is preferably a heat treatment which has a hardening and form setting effect, and the spring holders to which the springs are transferred from the winder are so designed as to approach the springs in dimension and to be as small as is consistent with easy handling, and proper holding and locating of the springs, as well as being designed to present a large area of the springs directly and uniformly to the atmosphere of a heating chamber.

The winding device and the spring holders are so designed and operated that upon the removal of the springs from the holders after the heat treatment, they naturally arrive at and hold a calculated final form and contour.

The winding device of Fig. I comprises essentially a rotatable table I over-the top and towards the center of which the several springs are adapted to be simultaneously drawn from differentdirections about the periphery of the table during coiling. Although the springs may be drawn from essentially the same direction, it is preferable to draw them from spaced points or directions in order to avoid possible entanglement or deformation. When the springs are first located in ready to coil position, they are fed from a single source, such as a supply box, and the table is indexed around to each station so that when ready for coiling, each spring may extend in a different direction.

The inner ends of the springs are secured to the upper end of a central winding arbor 2 the lower end of which has an offset handle 3 attached thereto so that the arbor 2 may be rotated by manual operation of the handle 3, and the springs consequently wound about the upper end of the winding arbor 2..

Supported above the table I by a horizontally extending. arm 4, and adapted to be separately indexed about the vertical pivot 5 of the arm 4 to a position immediately above and in vertical central alignment with the arbor 2, are two operating units 6 and], both shown in Fig. VII.

The unit 6 may be described as a holding unit, and is brought into contact with the springs while they are being wound to hold them in place and prevent telescoping. The unit I may be described as a transfer .unit and is used after the springs have been wound about the arbor 2, and the holding ring 8, Fig. V, has been placed over the springs; to transfer the springs from the winding device to the holder 8.

The first step in the operation of the structure of Fig. I is to determine how many springs are to be simultaneously interwound, and set the indexing arrangement of winding table I accordingly. 1

As shown in Fig. VIII, the device is set up to simultaneously interwind three springs in accordance with the three approaches 9, I 0, and II, to the winding arbor 2. The upper end of the winding arbor 2, as shown in plan in Fig. VIII, is slotted in three positions, in correspondence and capable of alignment with the approaches 9, I0, and II.

The arbor 2, in a manner described later in this specification, is initially positioned, for each separat winding operation, with each of the slots, as I2, in the arbor 2, in alignment with one of the approaches 9, I0, and II, so that the first spring may be fed in without delay. The table I is thereafter indexed about its center, on the bearings I3 (Fig. I), with the arbor 2 and the table I moving together and with the slots and approaches remaining in their separate alignments with each other, to bring each of the appreaches in turn with alignment with the supply of springs so that each spring may be fed through a different approach and its ends located directly in one of the slots I2 of the arbor 2 with a minimum of delay.

The table I is set for the desired indexing by arrangement of pins I4 (Fig. I) in the various holes (Fig. IV) in the periphery of the table I. Each hole is identified by one or more numbers to indicate which holes should have pins I4 placed therein for a particular number of springs to be simultaneously interwound.

For example, in the instance illustrated, three springs are wound together, so a pin I4 is placed only in each of the holes marked 3. It may be noted that these holes are at equidistant points about the periphery of the table I. In the event that 5 springs are to be wound together, a pin I4 is placed in each hole marked 5, and so on for each separate winding of a different number of springs.

The pins I4 have lower portions I5 extending below the table I and it is the contact of the portion I5 with a specially shaped spring I5 mounted on a block IT on the base of the device, which indexes the movement of the table I so as to bring each of the approaches 9, I0, and II in turn into alignment with the supply of springs.

After the table I has been indexed around enough times to enter all the springs that are to be wound together, the springs are in position to be wound but the holding unit 6 must first be brought into action.

As previously stated, the holding unit 6 is supported by the arm 4 which is mounted for indexing about the vertical pivot 5. This indexing arrangement is designed to move the units 6 and -1 into and out of operating position over the winding arbor 2, and is accomplished through the connection to the lower end of pivot 5 (Fig. I) of an indexing plunger I8.

The plunger I8 supports an indexing finger I9 which is adapted to locate in one of the series of recesses 20 in the indexing plate 2 I. The plate 2I is stationary and mounted on the base of the machine. Indexing arm 22 supports the plunger I 8 and is so attached to the pivot 5 that the finger I9 moves about the pivot 5 when the arm 4 is so moved.

The plunger I8 is mounted in the arm 22 for straight line movement in a direction transversely of the axis of the urged toward the indexing plate 2I by the action of its spring 23. The finger I9 is consequently normally held against the indexing plate 2I and when in one of the recesses 20 the units 6 and I are firmly held in their adjusted positions.

When it is desired to change the positions of the units 6 and I, the plunger I8 is drawn away from the indexing plate 2I against the action of the spring 23 and the arm 4 moved about the pivot 5 until the desired position is reached. This action may be accomplished through the joint action of finger lever 24 pivoted to the arm 4 at 25 and rocking lever 26 pivoted to the arm 4 at 21. The indexing plunger I8 is connected to the lower end of rocking lever 26 and the finger lever 24 is so connected to the upper end of the rocking lever 26 as to make it possible to move the indexing finger I9 away from the indexing plate 2| by movement of the finger lever 24 downward about its pivot 25.

Quick indexing may be achieved by depressing lever 24 only long enough to remove the finger I9 from an indexing recess 20 and move the arm 4 pivot 5 and is normally slightly about the pivot 5. The lever 24 is then released and the finger I3 is moved into contact with the inner surface 28 of the indexing plate 2 I. The arm 4 is then moved until the finger l9 drops into the next adjoining recess 26.

While the springs are being'located in the slots l2 of the winding arbor 2, and the indexing of the tabl is being carried out, the arm 4 is normally indexed at its farthest point so that both of the units 6 and 1 are in out-of-operation positions, and to one side of arbor 2.

As soon as all the springs have been located with their inner ends in the slots |2 of the winding arbor 2, the arm 4 is so indexed as to bring the holding unit 6 into operative position over the arbor 2. Movement of the holding unit lever 29 downward about its pivot 30 on the arm 4 then brings the holding unit 6 in actual operation.

As in Fig. VII, the holding unit 6 has an outer housing 3| rigidly and adjustably secured tothe arm 4 by means of a plate member 32 with screws 33 passing through both the plate 32 and arm 4 and secured to the housing 3|. Adjustment of the housing 3| on the arm 4 is for the purpose of exactly centering the holding unit 6 over the winding arbor 2 as a fine adjustment to supplement the relatively rough location afforded by the indexing finger l9 and plate 20. This fine adjustment is made possible by the provision of openings in the plate 32 and arm 4 for'rece'iving the screws 33, with the openings of greater dimension than the diameter of the screws.

This precise adjustment has importance since the holding unit 6 has a small holding pin 34 which must be located exactly above and for movement into a central opening 35 (Fig. VIII) in the top of the winding arbor 2.

Vertically slidable within the holding unit housing 3| is a holding plunger 36, the bottom face of which is adapted to rest on the top of the springs while they are being wound, and thus prevent the springs from telescoping or otherwise improperly winding.

The holding plunger 36 is connected on each side to the forked lever 29 through pins 31, and i the housing 3| is provided with vertical slots 38a; to permit up and down movement of the pins 31. Consequently, downward movement of the lever 29 moves the plunger 36 downward into contact with the springs which have their inner ends located in arbor slots |2, ready for winding.

The springs must also be held against pulling out of slots |2 during winding and this is accomplished through the action of the holding pin 34.

A second holding plunger 38 also vertically slidable, is mounted within the plunger 36 and s adapted to be moved up or down therewith in accordance with the movement of the lever 29. It is the plunger 38 which supports the holding pin 34. downward, the pin 34 enters the opening 35 in the top of the winding arbor 2, and the arbor down on the springs under the action of its own As the plungers 36 and 38 are moved weight only, or, if desired, manual pressure may be applied to the holding lever 29.

When the springs are thus held, they are ready to be wound. The pin 34 is so mounted in plungers 36 and 38 as to turn with the arbor 2 during winding. This mounting is on a ball bearing 39 and is provided with live pressure by a pin 40 riding on the top of the ball bearing 39 and a spring 4| bearing on the pin 40. The recess in plunger 38 which contains the bearing 39, pin 40, and spring 4|, is so vented as to avoid air pockets when the plungers are operated.

Having fully wound the springs by turning the arbor 2 with the approaches 9, I0, and II and the rest of the table stationary, it is necessary to remove the pin 34 from the hole 35 before the pressure of the plunger 36 on the springs is relieved. If this were not done, the springs would be in danger of being pulled off the arbor by the frictional action of the upward movement of the pin 34 against the inner terminals of the springs.

Accordingly means is provided in the holding unit 6 to lift the pin 34 while the pressure of the plunger 36 isstill applied to the top of the springs. This means consists of a spring 42 and cam arrangement 43 between the plunger 38 and the plunger 36 which is adapted to move the plunger 38 and consequently the pin 34, with respect to the plunger 36.

The cam 43 is in the form of a cam lever pivoted at 44 to an extension of the plunger 38. The cam 43 is adapted to bear on a rigid member 45 which is effectively a part of the plunger 36, and is normally, that is, when the pin 34 is fully extended, positioned with the low area of the cam riding free and the plunger 38 bottoming n the plunger 36 under the downward pressure of the spring 42 on the plunger 38.

When it is desired to lift the pin 34 without lifting the plunger 36, the cam lever 43 is depressed about its pivot 44 and the action of the high area of the cam against the member 45 forces the plunger 38 upward against the action of the spring 42 and consequently lifts the pin 34 so that it is pulled away from the inner ends of the springs without disturbing their wound arrangement, and without lifting the plunger 36.

When not in operation, the plungers 36 and 38 of the holding unit 6 are held up in the housing 3| by springs 46 which are secured to the housing 3| and adapted to so bear against the pins 31 as to urge them upward.

In order to permit easy removal of the plungers 36 and 38 from the unit 6 for repairs or replacement, the plunger 36 is provided with a circumferential slot 41 in which the inner ends of the p ns 31 are located. The circumferential slot 41 joined by diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 48 which extend downward to the lower end of the plunger 36.

Consequently, by turning the plunger 36 about its longitudinal ax s, the inner ends of the pins 31 are made to follow the circumferential slot 41 until they reach thelongitudinal slots 48. The plungers 36 and 38 may then be lifted out of the housing 3! with the inner ends of the pins 31 following the longitudinal slots 48. When it is desired to retain the plungers in the housing 3|, the'pins 31 are positioned in the circumferential slot 41 at points spaced from the longitudinal slots 48 and maintained in those positions by a spring pressed pin 49 mounted in the housing 3| and extending into one of the longitudinal slots 48. This arrangement prevents the plunger 36 'from turning about its longitudinal axis. The plungers 3B and 38 may, therefore, be removed from the housing 3| by first pulling the pin 49 out of the slot 48, and turning and lifting the plunger 36 so that the pins 3! are made to follow the circumferential slot 41 and the longitudinal slots 48.

A safety arrangement is provided in connection with the holding unit 6 which prevents the indexing of the arm 4 while the holding unit is in contact with the spring being wound, and also prevents the holding plunger 36 from being moved downward any appreciable amount unless the indexing finger I9 is located in one of the indexing slots 20.

This safety arrangement comprises an angled leg 50 so connected to the holding unit lever 29 as to move with it about the pivot 38 and a similar leg similarly secured to the finger lever 24 for movement about the pivot 25. The leg 5! has an adjustment screw 52 mounted adjacent its free end.

In the event that the holding unit lever 29 is in depressed position, depression of the finger lever 24 causes the screw 52 to contact the leg 5! and raise the lever 29. This action is reversible in the event that the finger lever 24 is in depressed position and the lever 29 is pushed down.

This arrangement prevents damage to the springs and to pin 34 which might be caused by side movement of the unit 6 while it is in contact with the springs or by movement of the plunger 36 against the springs when the unit 6 is not properly positioned above the'arbor 2. This arnragement also has the operating advantage that the levers need only be pressed down since they are lifted automatically by pressing down on one of the other levers as the next step in the operation.

It is to be understood that the fine location adjustment of the unit 6 is first accomplished through the plate 32 and screws 33 and thereafter the above described safety devices and the indexing mechanism are effectively precise and accurate.

When the springs have been fully wound and the pin 34 removed from its holding contact with their inner ends, it is desirable to maintain the downward holding action of the plunger 36 on the springs and remove the upper end of the arbor 2 from contact with the springs. This is accomplished by pulling the arbor 2 downward in a manner to be described later.

Following this action, the springs l e in the depression 53 (Fig. X) in which they were wound over the springs and to lift the holding plunger r 36 and so index the arm 4 as to bring the transfer unit 1 into position above the springs and holder. Fig. V illustrates one form of spring holder to which the springs are transferred from the winding machine by the transfer unit 1. As shown, the holder 8 contains three springs. The holder as brought to the winding machine is empty, and the central opening is so formed as to be effectively a replica of the winding depression 53.

The springs are transferred from the winding machine to the holder 8 by placing the holder over the springs so that the annular form of the holder lies in vertical alignment with the annular form of a member 54 which forms the wall of the depression 53 within which the springs are wound,

and so pressing down on the holder 8 as to depress the member 54 while maintaining a rigid base or backing for the springs. Since the spring dimensions are small, the movement needed to accomplish the transfer is small.

The central opening in the holder 8 must be of a size and contour closely duplicating that of the spring winding depression 53, and the diameter of outerperiphery of the holder must be the same as or less than that of the annular member 54.

The spring transfer is made by holding the springs down against the base of the winding depression 53 and simultaneously replacing the annular member 54 with the ring 8 without giving the springs an opportunity to materially change their wound arrangement and contour. For this purpose, the holding ring is provided with locator holes 55 adapted to fit over locator pins 56 on the annular member 54. Such exactness of location is thereby provided as to align each contour of the holding ring 8 with its corresponding contour in the annular member 54 and accordingly the holding ring is able to slip over "the spring smoothly and without snagging or binding.

The annular member 54 is so mounted in the Winding machine as to be movable downward against spring pressure so that pressure on the aligned ring 8 will move the member 54 down away from the springs.

When the empty holding ring 8 has been aligned with the annular member 54 the transfer unit I is brought into action.

This unit, see Fig. VII, has a housing 51 secured to and adjustable with respect to the support arm 4 through a plate 53 and screws in oversize holes in the plate 58 and arm 4 in an arrangement like that of the holding unit 6.

The housing 51 is vertically slotted to receive and permit up and down movement of the pins 59 which connect the transfer lever 60 (Fig. IV) with a vertically slidable pushing plunger 6|. The transfer lever 60 is pivoted on the support 4 at 62 and is normally held up by springs 63 mounted on the housing 51 and bearing on the pins 59.

Within the pushing plunger 6| a pressure plunger 54 is slidably mounted and adapted to move up and down in accordance with the movement of the transfer lever 60. A collar member 65 is secured to the upper end of the plunger 64 and bears on the plunger 6! to keep plunger 64 in place'in the assembly. When the transfer lever 60 is depressed, the bottom face of the pressure plunger 64 passes through the central opening in the holding ring 8 and is brought into contact with the coiled springs in the depression 53 and holds the springs against the rigidly held base of the depression 53 with a resilience afforded by the vertically actin spring 66 in a vented recess in plunger 6|.

Further downward movement of the lever 60 brings the bottom annular face of the pushing plunger 6| into contact with the holding ring 8. The annular member 54 is consequently pushed down, and the springs in the recess 53 are transferred to the ring 8.

A similar safety arrangement exists between the transfer unit 1 and the indexing mechanism for the arm 4 as has been described in connection with the holding unit 6. The arm 4 may not be moved sideways unless the transfer lever 60 is raised, and the transfer lever 60 may not be operatively depressed unless the indexing finger I9 is located in one of the index recesses 20.

The plungersfil and 64 are then lifted out of the way and the ring 8 is lifted above the surface of the winding unit by a cam operated lifting pins 61. More than one lifting pin may be used if desired by formin suitable risers on the cam. This lifting permits the ready picking up of the ring 8 with the springs held therein.

The springs are heat treated to harden and set to form while held in the ring 8 and after cooling are removed from the ring.

The spring holding ring 8, Figs. V and VI, is formed to a thickness approximating the depth or width dimension of the springs. In some instances it may be desirable to form the ring to a greater or less thickness to permit the insertion of more than one group of springs or to expose more of the surface of the springs.

The ring 8 is small, light in weight, easy to handle, and readily permits the orderly and compact assembly of many rings in a furnace. Fig. V illustrates a ring with steps 68 in the walls of its central opening against which the outer ends of the wound springs may bear. These steps are known as snailing, and similar formations are achieved in the winding device by the arrangement of the uprights 69 on the member 54, Fig. VIII, and the approaches 9, I0, and II, so that the springs are wound to such a form that the ring 8 may readily be slipped over them.

The approaches 9, I0, and II are depressed with respect to the uprights 69 so that the uprights 69 provide side walls which act as guides forsprings being drawn through the approaches 8, I0, and II. As may be seen in Fig. VIII, the

uprights 69 have their inner walls in snailed formation, thus providing the snailing for the outer periphery of the springs in the coiling recess 53. v

The walls of the approaches 9, I0, and H are so angled as to provide a relatively wide entrance and a relatively narrow exit to springs being drawn through the approaches so as to provide an easy entrance and yet maintain guiding walls approaching the dimension of the spring.

The snailing has two main advantages. winding machine the uprights 69 provide cam surfaces against which the outer ends of the springs bear to tighten the winding so that a firm coil is achieved. This ispartieularly an advantage in that it permits greater tolerance in the cut length of the springs. If they are shorter than precise standard they may still be wound in a tight coil, and if they are longer than precise standard, the spiral may be madea little tighter, and the end of the spring drawn into the winding recess.

The snailing formation also permits the windingand holding of the springs in efiectively true spiral form, since without the steps 68, the coils would be distorted radially in line with the outer ends of the springs.

Fig, XI illustrates in an enlargement of the center of Fig. VIII, the form of the top of winding arbor 2 about which the springs are wound in a clockwise direction. The inner terminals of the springs are inserted in slots l2 preparatory to Winding of the spring in a flat spiral. The pin 34,-Fig. VII, is inserted in opening 35 and presses the spring-ends against walls l2a through the contact'of pin 34 with the spring through the side wall openings 35a of the central opening 35.

The full lines of Fig. XI show the peripheral snailing or stepped formation which makes possible the coiling of the springs in efiectively true spirals without bunching or distortion in alignment with the inner terminals of the springs.

In the r Similar snailing is provided in the annular member 54, Fig. VIII, which provides the outer walls of the recess 53 within which the springs are coiled. The spring holder 8, Fig. V, is also snailed in duplication of the contour of member 54.

It is to be understood, however, that in some instances and for certain purposes, springs may be coiled, held and treated according to this invention without the use of snailing. It may be that only a rough approximation of a spiral is needed, or that the dimensions of the springs to be coiled are so small as to make snailing impractical.

For practical purposes, the spiral made possible by the snailing arrangements of this invention is effectively a true one. This invention is intended to cover the provision of means for coiling the springs into an exact and precisely true spiral in instances when such exactitude is desirable.

'The walls of the slots 12 are further cut away as illustrated by dotted lines I20 to provide a rounded corner at the start of the spring coil and to avoid the possibility of bunching or internal distortion of the springs which might be caused by bending them about a sharp corner.

The snailing on the annular member 54 and the winding arbor 2 is formed by simple turning operations since the peripheral curves are portions of circles calculated together to provide close approximations of spirals in springs wound about them. The tool used for blanking out the holding rings 8 is similarly formed.

In order to avoid distortion of the holder 8 as the result of heat treatment, the material from which the holders are made is first heat treated and effectively predistor-ted and the holders are thereafter formed from the treated material. The holders thus formed will not warp or materially change size or shape under many repeated heat treatments.

An important feature and advantage of this invention is the formation of the slots l2, Figs. VHI and XI, in the arbor 2. The inner terminals of the springs are formed to such an angle with respect to the remainder of the spring as will permit the ready assembly of the spring in its timepiece assembly with very little, if any, adjustment of the inner terminal angle. This is accomplished by so angling the slots I2 that the inner terminals of the springs mounted therein will be bent beyond the angle 'desired for their permanent set. Consequently, after the springs have been transferred to the holding ring, heat treated and released, the tendency of the materialto creep slightly, so changes the angle of the inner terminals, as wound, as to bring it very close to the angle desired for permanent set. This arrangement avoids the difficulties of bending the inner terminals to the desired angle after The winding table I travels on bearings l3 and has openings H therethrough. A glass plate 12 acts as the top of the table I and has a separator of paper or other suitable material 13 between it and theltable. The glass cover 12 provides a smooth surface for the springs to travel over and the separator 13 is formed of dark colored material so that the relatively light colored springs, normally natural bright metallic color, may readily be seen when resting on the glass The glass cover 12 is annular in shape, with a central opening within which the unit containing the winding arbor 2 is located. An annular joining member l4 connects the cover 12 with the arbor unit. This unit has a housing anda cover I6 and the cover I6 has a central opening in which is located the annular member 54, which is depressed when the springs are transferred to the holder 8.

A central sleeve shaft 'I'I lies in the central opening of the member 54 and its top face forms the bottom of the recess 53. In turn, the winding arbor 2 lies in the central opening of the shaft 11. The annular member 54 extends a sufficient amount above the cover I6 to permit the uprights 69 (Fig. VIII) to form vertical guide walls for the springs in the approaches 9, I0, and I I, and the arbor 2 normally extends above the top surface of the sleeve 11 an amount sufficient to permit the inner terminals of the springs to be inserted in the slots I2.

The depressable annular member 54 rests upon, and is secured to by screws I8, a depressable sleeve I9 which is normally held up against the housing cover I6 by spring 80 which bears on an inner shoulder of the housing I5 (Fig. I). The lifting pin 61 extends through the member 54 with its top surface preferably below that of the member 54, and through a portion of the sleeve I9 to bear on a cam ring 8I against which it is spring pressed. Thus the pin 61 need not be depressed When the member 54 is pressed down to transfer the springs to the ring.

Cam ring 8I is rotatable about the sleeve I9 and'is normally held against a stop by spring 82. When it is desired to lift the ring 8 from the winding unit, the handle 83 is moved along slot 84 against the action of spring 82 and cam riser 85 acts against the lower end of the lifter pin 61. In order to keep the lifter pin 61 and the cam riser 85 in proper relative positions, sleeve I9 is prevented from turning about the shaft 11 by a vertical pin 89 which is fixed in the cover I6 and extends into a guide bore in the sleeve I9. I

The shaft 11 is adjustable vertically to vary the depth of the recess to accommodate springs of different dimensions, and this adjustment is accomplished by movement of the adjustment nut 81 (Fig. I) along the threaded exterior of the lower portion of the shaft 11. A bottom cap 88 is removably secured to housing I5 and has a central opening within which the winding arbor 2 and the shaft 'I'I lie. The nut 81 and'consequently the shaft 11 are pressed downwardly by the spring 89 with the nut 81 pressed against the bottom cap 88.

The arbor 2 is also adjustable vertically to cause it to extend a greater or less amount into the recess 53 as desired. This adjustment is accomplished by means of adjustment screw 95a at the bottom of the arbor 2.

In order to prevent the shaft 11 from turning and changing its height adjustment by threading itself through the nut 81, a key pin 99 is mounted in the sleeve I9 and extended into a vertical keyway 9| in the shaft 11.

A spacer sleeve 92 contains and is secured to the lower end of the bottom cap 88 by screw pins 93 having their inner ends extending into and bottoming in a circumferential slot in bottom cap 88. A winding sleeve 94 is secured to and for movement with the winding arbor .2 by a screw 95 and a shoulder-of the winding sleeve 94 is held in contact with-the bottom of the spacer sleeve 92 by springs 96 (Fig. II) secured at their upper ends to screw pins 93 on the spacer sleeve 92 and at the lower ends to screw pins 91 which circumferentially key a locking sleeve 98' to and normally against vertical movement with respect to the winding sleeve 94. Consequently the arbor 2 is normally held with its upper end above the bottom of the recess 53, but by pulling down on the handle 3 against the action of the springs 96, the arbor may be moved down so as to remove its upper end from the recess, and from holding contact with the inner terminals of the springs, when desired. The winding and locking sleeves 94 and 98 are provided with sufficient clearances to avoid air pockets in slot I which might hinder the free operation of the device.

The spacer sleeve 92 rigidly supports a pin 99 extending inside the sleeve 92 and into a circumferential slot I09 in the winding sleeve 94 which is such as to normally permit the arbor 2 to be turned by the handle 3 without interference with the pin 99. The upper portion of the winding sleeve 94 has a vertical slot IOI adapted to receive the pin 99 when the arbor 2 is pulled down and turned so as to bring them into vertical alignment. Consequently, whenever the arbor 2 is pulled down sufiiciently to remove itself from the depression 53, it must, when properly adjusted, be turned so as to align slot IIH and pin 99, and in so doing, the slots I2 in the top of the arbor 2 are aligned with the approaches 9, I0, and II so that when the arbor is again raised, it is in proper position for feeding in new springs.

The pin 99 also extends beyond the outside of the spacer sleeve 92 and into a vertical slot I02 in the locking sleeve 98 so that this sleeve may move up and down with the arbor 2, but is prevented from turning about that arbor with the consequent danger of damage to the springs The alignment of slot IIlI and pin 99 should be indicative of the alignment of the arbor slots I2 and the approaches 9, I8, and I I when the pin 99 is in the slot IOI. This alignment is provided by adjustment of spacer sleeve 92 about the bottom cap 88. Screw pins 93 are loosened so that they may travel in the circumferentialslot of bottom cap 88, and screw pins 91 are loosened so that they may travel in the circumferential slot 91a of the winding sleeve 94.

This adjustment permits the alignment of pin 99 with one of the approaches 9, I8, and II.

The slot IOI is adjustable for alignment with one of the arbor slots I2. This adjustment is accomplished by loosening screw 95. so as to permit arbor 2 to be turned with respect to winding sleeve 94 and consequently slot IOI.

The winding unit housing I5, its bottom cap 88 and the spacer sleeve 92 are rigidly secured to each other and the housing I5 is secured to the table I through its attachment to the bottom ring I93 as illustrated in Figs. II and III by the yoke clamp I94 and bolt I05. By loosening the bolt I65 and consequently the yoke I04, the housing I5 may be so rotarily adjusted as to position the approaches 9, I0, and II, of Fig. VIII as desired with respect to the pins I4 of Fig. IV, or with one of the approaches in alignment with a source of uncoiled springs which may be located in any convenient position about the machine. Upon removal of the yoke I04 the housing I5 and its associated winding mechanism may be lifted from the machine as a unit to facilitate repair or replacement.

As shown in Fig. II, the adjustment nut 81 extends radially beyond the bottom cap 88 on two sides and is accordingly readily accessible to a tool to be inserted in one of the peripheral openings in the adjustment nut 81, as shown in Fig. I, for the purpose of making the recess 53 (Fig. X) shallower or deeper.

When the arbor 2 has been pulled down to release the inner terminals of the wound springs it is adapted to be held down mechanically until the machine is ready to wind another group of springs at which time the arbor is automatically released, and then moved upward by the springs 96 into its normal winding position.

The arbor 2 is locked in its down position through the holding action of a lock lever I06 on the shoulder I01 of the locking sleeve 98. The lock lever I06 is pivoted at I08 to a bracket I09 which is mounted on a downwardly extending part of the central portion of the table I. An adjustable stop member I I is mounted in the bracket I09, and the lever I06 is normally urged against this stop by locking spring I I I. The lock lever I06 and the shoulder I0'I of the locking sleeve 98 are both provided with cam surfaces and these are so-positioned as to engage when the arbor 2 is pulled'down. The locking end of the lever I06 snaps over the shoulder I01 and bears down on that shoulder under the action of spring III so as to hold the arbor 2 in its down position.

The locking sleeve 08, and consequently the arbor 2, is released when the lock lever I06 is moved about its pivot I08 by downward movement of the stop member I I0 under the action of trip pin II2 pushing down on the upper end of that member as the table I is rotated. 7

Referring to Fig. IV, there is one indexing station of the table I at which a pin I4 is always placed regardless of the number of springs to be wound; That is the station shown with its pin I4 held by the spring I6. This station is marked 3, 4, 5, 6, I to indicate that a pin I4 is to be positioned there when winding any one of the above numbers of springs simultaneously. This is the zero or starting station for all windings.

If three springs'are to be wound, the table I will be indexed to two other stations, each marked 3 in Fig. IV, and left at the last position while the springs are wound and removed. The cam H2 (Fig. I) is stationary and mounted .on the base of the machine, while the pin I I0 rotates with the table I. The cam H2 and pin I I0 are so formed and mounted on the machine as 'to come in contact with each other only when the table I is being moved to the zero indexing position prior to winding a new group of springs after the last indexed position of the previous winding has-been passed; Consequently the rotation of the table I to the zero or initial index-' ing position, automatically releases the arbor 2 if it is held down, and permits the springs 96 to lift the arbor 2 into its normal winding position.

In accordance with the above description it will be seen that this invention is particularly directed to the production and use of a simple Spring holder and to the means and method of coiling a spring or group of .springs and mounting it or them in the holder preparatory to heat treatment. Consequently, the mechanism shown and described is merely illustrative. If desired, a hand tool may be used in the form of the unit removed from the machine, or a similar structure.

What we claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a rotatable table having a central recess therein, a coiling arbor mounted centrally of said recess, indexing means adapted to so control the rotation of said table as to locate said arbor in a series of predetermined positions, means adapted to confine a spring in said recess and lock it to said arbor, and transfer means adapted to move a coiled spring fromsaid recess to a holder without material change in its coiled arrangement.

2. In a device of the character described, a rotatably mounted coiling arbor, a holding unit and a transfer unit mounted above said arbor and being separately alignable therewith, with each unit having a portion movable into operative relation with said arbor when aligned therewith, and protective means adapted to prevent change in said alignment While one of said portions is in operative relation with said arbor and to prevent movement of either of said portions into operative relation with said arbor unless the corresponding unit is properly aligned with said arbor.

3. In apparatus for forming a spring, means for holding the periphery of a coiled spring, means for holding the inner terminal of said coiled spring, a member adapted to receive and maintain said spring as coiled, means for removing said inner terminal holding means While maintaining said spring in its coiled arrangement and held by said peripheral holdin means, and transfer means adapted to remove said peripheral holding means and substitute said member adapted to receive said spring while maintaining the coiled arrangement thereof.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a member having a coiling recess with a step in its wall adapted to receive the outer end of a spring coiled in said recess, a perforated holder adapted to receive a spring as coiled in said recess, said holder having a step in the wall of said perforation similar to said step in the coiling recess wall, and locating means on said member and said holder adapted to so align said steps and position said holder to receive said coiled spring.

5. An apparatus for processing springs including a rotatable table formed with a central recess, an arbor centrally located in said recess formed with angularly disposed wire receiving slots, means for winding a plurality of spring wires on said arbor and within said recess and means for holding said wound spring wires in wound position.

6. An apparatus for processing springs including a rotatable table formed with a central recess, an arbor formed'with angularly disposed wire receiving slots and rotatable independently of said table centrally located in said recess, means for holding the ends of spring wires in said arbor, means for winding said wires about said arbor simultaneously and in overlapped relation and means for holding said spring wires in wound position.

'7. An apparatus for processing springs including a rotatable table formed with a central recess, a rotatable arbor centrally located in said recess, means carried by said arbor for holding the ends of a plurality of spring wires in different angular positions, means for winding said spring wires simultaneously and in overlapped relation about said arbor and within said recess, a ring, and means for transferring said wound spring wires from said recess to said ring.

8. An apparatus for processing hairsprings including a rotatable table formed with a central recess, an arbor rotatably mounted in said recess,

means for winding sprin wires about said arbor and within said recess, means forholding said Wires in said recess While being wound, a holding ring, means for transferring said wound spring wires from said recess to said holding ring and means for removing said holding ring.

9. An apparatus for processing hairsprings including a rotatable table formed with a central recess, an arbor rotatably mounted in said recess, means for securing the ends of predetermined length of spring wire to said arbor, means for Winding said wire about said arbor and within said recess, means for removing said arbor, a hOlding ring, and means for transferring said wound wires from said recess to said holding ring.

10. An apparatus for processing hairsprings including a rotatable table formed with a central recess, an arbor rotatably mounted in said recess, means carried by said arbor for holding the ends of a plurality of spring wires, means for Winding said spring wires about said arbor and within said recess, guiding mean for said wire While being Wound, means for holdin said wound spring wires in wound position and means for transferring said wound spring wire from said recess to said holding means. v,

11. An apparatus for processing hairsprings comprising a rotatable annular table formed with a central annular recess, said table having a series of threaded holes adjacent its periphery arranged in groups to give equal spacing of said holes around said table in groups of three, four, five, six and seven holes to the periphery, threaded pins adapted to be placed in certain of said holes, a stop device engaging each of said pins in turn upon rotation of said table, an arbor rotatable with and independently of said table, said arbor being formed with a series of receiving slots to receive the ends of a selected number of lengths of wire, a crank on the end of said arbor for winding the wire about said arbor simultaneously and in overlapped relation, means for holding and guiding said wire into said recess while being Wound, means for withdrawing said arbor from said recess, means for transferring said wound wire to a holding ring and means for releasing said arbor holding means.

12. An apparatus for processing hairsprings according to claim 11 wherein the means for releasing said arbor holding means is a spring operative catch engaging said arbor and rotatable with said table and a stationary cam located in the path of said catch whereby rotation of the table releases the catch at a predetermined point.

13. An apparatus for processing hairsprings comprising a rotatable arbor, a plurality of spring wires secured to said arbor, means for turning said arbor to wind said spring wires simultaneously and in overlapped relation, means for confining said wound spring wire, a removable ring means for holding said wound spring wire in wound condition, means for withdrawing said arbor and means for releasing said removable wire holding ring.

14. In an apparatus for processing hairsprings by heat treatment, means for winding a pluraling ring formed with its inner side snailed to conform to the number and desired convolution of the wound spring wires, said ring being of a thickness not to exceed the width of the spring wire and heat treating means.

16. In an apparatus for processing hairsprings, a work table formed with a central recess, a ring concentric with said recess and formed with approach slots leading to said recess, pins extending through said ring, a rotatable arbor formed with angularly disposed slots to receive the ends of the Wire and positioned centrally of said recess, means for rotating said arbor and simultaneously Winding wire coils about; said arbor and within said recess until the wire tightly fills said recess, a holding ring conforming on its inner surface to the inner side of the recess and formed with holes to receive the pins and means for transferring said coiled wire from said recess to said holding ring.

17. In an apparatus for forming a spring,

" means for holding the periphery of a coiled spring, means for holding the inner terminal of said coiled spring, a ring adapted to receive and maintain said spring as coiled, means for removing said inner terminal holding means while maintaining said spring in its coiled arrangement and held by said peripheral holding means and transfer means adapted to remove said peripheralholding means and substitute said ring adapted to receive said spring while maintaining the coiled arrangement thereof,

18. In an apparatus for forming a spring means for holding the periphery of a group of coiled springs in coiled arrangement, the coils of one spring within the coils of the other springs,

means for holding the inner ends of said springs,

a ring member adapted to receive and maintain said springs as coiled, means for removing said inner terminal holding means while maintaining said springs in their coiled arrangement and held by said peripheral holding means, and

transfer means adapted to remove said peripheral holding means and substitute said ring member while maintaining said springs in coiled arrangement.

WILLIAM OGLE BENNETT, JR. ERNEST WILLIAM DRESCHER. 

